Telegraphic intercommunicating system



Aug. 1, 1933. E F WATSON 1,920,453

TELEGRAPHIC I NTERCOMMUN I CAT ING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 13, 1932 5Sheets-Sheet l LINEN/900M SEND/NG AND I mam we I PRINTER lNVENTOR E. EWATSON FIG. 6

FIG

AT TORNEV g 1933- E. F. WATSON 1,920,453

TELEGRAPHIC INTERCOMMUNICATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 13, 1932 5 SheetSSheet2 by H LFHI ENG/NEH? L/NE N ROOM Q I N 9 k g $|Y$ a 3%; \Lu 5 gm m Q V)l INVENTOR EEWATSON ATTORNEY L 1933- E. F. WATSON 1,920,453

TELEGRAPHI C INTERCOMMUNICATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 13, 1932 5Sheets-Sheet 3 ROOM @0557 CLERK FLOOR L 54-we TELEPHONE OPE RA TOR Q mu; 5X L i Q 5%: fi' m als 5g INVENTOR EEWATSON ATTORNEY Aug L 1933- E.F. WATSON 1,920,453

TELEGRAPHI C INTERCOMMUNICATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 13, 1932 5Sheets-Sheet 4 ENGINEER POP TB? EE WATSON AT TOPNEV Patented Aug. 1,I933 inns-o STATES ears-r orgies TELEGRAPHIC INTEEMMUNECATING 17 Claims.(Cl. -1'78--4.1)

This invention relates to printing telegraph exchange systems and moreespecially to substations whereat switching means are employed forestablishing and controlling communication circuits between separatedstations.

An object of this invention is to enable an attendant at one station toestablish a connec-- tion quickly between his own printer and theprinter or printers at the station or stations with whom he desires tocommunicate.

Another object of this invention isto provide remote control arrangementwhereby a calling party may start the motor at thecalled station in theabsence of an attendant at that station. A further object of thisinvention is to provide a broadcasting arrangement whereby a message maybe broadcast from one station to a plurality of selected receivingstations.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a system forconnecting'at will, one or more main, or sending and receiving, stationsand one or more outlying or,receiving only, stations. 7

Heretofore in private systems employing printing telegraph equipment 1id operating on an automatic basis, complid switching mechanisms wererequired to establish connection between separated stations.Considerable time was consumed in eslishing the connections,particularly in systerns wher in selective rotary step-by-step switcheswere used. Furthermore, the auxiliary apparatus required for testingidle and busy conditions of a called station were equally com plicatedand expensive.

According to the present invention no complicated or expensive apparatusis required other than a sending and receiving printer or a receivingonly printer at each station as is required in the older systems overwhich the present system is an improvement. The present inventionprovides a system wherein a plurality of stations may be interconnected,as desired, automatically. The system comprises a pluralityof main orcentral stations whereat sending and receiving printers are provided anda plurality of outlying stations some of which have sending andreceiving printers and others have receiving only printers. The mainstations and some of the outlying stations are each provided with. acalling key for one or more of the other stations and when the keyassociated with any-one desired station is operated, a normally openedline extending to the desired station is immediately intercommunicationclosed, provided, of course, the desired station isnot busy at the time.The operation or" the key lights a busy lamp at each of the otherstations from which connections to the calling station maybe made,indicating that the callso ing station is busy. The line circuit betweenany two interconnected main stations is common to both sending andreceiving at each station and includes at each of the interconnectedstations a printer in seriesconneotion. The printers are provided withcontrol arrangements which permit automatic starting immediately upon-aclosure after an open condition of the line. The starting of the motorat cer ta n main stations or the closure of the call circuit at theother main stations and at the. outlying stations is utilized .foroperating at each of the other main stations which arealso arranged toestablish connections to the calledstations, a busy lamp indicating thatthe called station is busy. The printers are also provided with amechanical control feature so that transmission of a special printercode signal stops the printer motors. Before disconnecting at the end ofa message the operator at either station sends this code signal to stopthe printer motors. Two or more main and outlying stations may beselectively connected to a calling station in which event two or morebusy lamps respectively associated with the called stations and locatedat the calling static-n, are lighted as soon as the line circuits areclosed.

A feature of this invention is an arrangement wherein the lineconnecting two or more stations is normally opened-thereby permittingcurrent to flow through the printer mechanisms only while it is in use.

A feature of this arrangement is that the line circuit batteries aresituated at the main stations and there is no need for battery supply atthe outlying stations.

Another feature is the provision of a lockout arrangement for onlycertain of the main stations whereby such stations are prevented frominterrupting an established connection be tween two or more otherstations in the system.

Another feature is the selective broadcast arrangement whereby any mainstation is capable of sending a broadcast to two or more other stations.

Another feature is the arrangement whereby a calling station is notifiedas soon as two or more stations are interconnected that such stationsare busy.

A preferred embodiment will now be described with respect ,to theaccompanying drawings which illustrate a hotel intercominunicatingsystem comprising main or central stations such as the linen room, theroom clerk, the cashier and the telephone operators stations, andoutlying station such as the guest floor, the engineers, the porters,the bell captains, the valets rooms. The drawings illustrate a systemarranged as follows:

Figure 1 shows the equipment at the linen room;

Fig. 2 shows the equipment at the room clerks station;

Fig. 3 shows the equipment for the cashiers station;

Fig. 4 shows the equipment for the telephone operators room;

Fig. 5 shows the equipment for the first guest floor, the engineers roomand each of the other outlying stations such would be provided for theporter, the bell captain and the valet, the equipment for the last threestations being a receiving only printer whichis representeddiagrammatically by rectangles. The equipment at each of the otherguestfloors is the same as that shown for the first floor; and

6 shows the arrangement of the various sheets of the drawings;

Only so much of the equipment as is necessary to give a clearunderstanding of the invention is shown.

The system described herein is arranged to establish the followingconnections:

Linen room From linen-room to engineers or room clerks and guest floorstations separately. The connections to the room clerks and any guestfloor stations may also be made simultaneously.

.Room clerlcs station Fromthe room clerks' station to the engineersroom, the linen room and each of the guest floor stations separately.Simultaneous connections may be made to the linen room and to the engineer or any guest'floor.

Cashiers station From the cashiers station to the telephone operatorsthelinen room, the room clerks and any guest floor station. All theseconnections may also be established separately or simultanecusly.

Telephone operators station From the telephone operators station to thevalets, the porters, the bell captains and the engineers stations andany other outlying stationsthat maybe desired. The connections areestablished separately or simultaneously.

Guest floor From each guest floor to the linen room and the room clerksstations, either separately or to both stations simultaneously.

Enginecrs station these stations. The reason for this is that theprinters at these stations are, as stated above, of the receiving onlytype.

Other main and outlying stations may be added as desired. It isunderstood that the scopeoi' the invention is not limited to thearrangement shown herein, that is, to a hotel intercommunieating system,but may also be adapted for man other uses.

APPARATUS IN GENERAL At the linen room station The equipment at thelinen room station comprises a sending and receiving printer, a busylamp and a call key for room clerk and a busy lamp, 2. call key and amulti-contact double winding relay for each of the guest floors and theengineers station, two single-winding relays for establishing theconnection or the local printer to the printer at the room clerksstation, a single-winding relay for effecting a connecticn between thelocal printer and the printer at either oi the guest floors or theengineers stations and a single winding relay for simultaneously closingcircuits extending to the room clerks, the cashiers, the engineers, theguest floor stations whereat busy lamps are located 7 to in icate to theoperators at these stations when the linen room printer is busy.

At the "room clerks station The equipment at the room clerks stationcomprises a sending and receiving printer, a busy lamp and a call keyfor the linen room, a busy-lamp, acall key and a multi-contact,doubleuvindmgrelay for each of the guest floors floor stations. Thebusy lamps at these diiferent stations indicate that the printer at theroom cler zs station is busy.

At the cashiers station The equipment at the cashiers station comprisesa sending and receiving printer, a busy lamp and a call key for eachofthe telephone operators the linen room, clerks and the guest floorstations, a singlewinding relay for preparing a connection between thelocal printer and the printer at the telephone operators, the linenroom, the room clerks or the guest floor stations, and a plural ity ofsingle-winding relays for respectively com pleting the circuits soprepared. The busy lamp circuits. which extend to the telephoneoperators, the, linen room, the room clerhs and the guest floor stationsare respectively controlled either directly or indirectly by the callkeys located at their respective stations.

At the telephone opcrators station The equipment at the telephoneoperators station comprises a sending and receiving" printer, a busylamp and a call key for each of the cashiers and the engineers stations,a

call key for the bell captains and the porters stations, asingle-winding relay for preparing the room a connection between thelocal printer and the printer at either the cashiers orthe engineersstations, and. a single winding relay for completing such connections."Thebusy lamp circuits which extend to the cashiers, and the engineersstations are. respectively controlled from. the call keys located attheir respective stations.

At the guest floor station The equipment shown above the dot and dashline in Fig. 5 is that located at the guest floor station. Thisequipment comprises a sending and receiving printer, and a busy lamp anda call key for each of the room clerks and the linen room stations. Thebusy circuits which extend to the room clerks and the linen roomstations are respectively controlled by the call keys located at theirrespective stations.

At the engineers station The equipment shown immediately below the dotand dash line and. in the middle portion of 5 represents that for theengineers station. This equipment comprises a sending and receivingprinter, and a busy lamp and a call key for each of the room clerks andthe linen room stations; The busy circuits which extend to the roomclerks and the linen room stations are respectively controlled over thecall keys located at their respective stations.

At the porters, the bell captains and the nalets stations The equipmentat each of these stations is shown below the equipment for the engineersstation in Fig. 5, and comprises a receiving only printer. Thisequipment is represented diagrammatically by rectangles.

It is understood that other guest floor stations may be employed, theequipment for the additional station being identical with that of theguest floor station shown. 1

The printers are of the start-stop type, and as stated above, are eachequipped with a control arrangement for permitting. it to automaticallystart when an interconnecting line circuit between printers is closedand to stop in response to a special printer code signal from either ofthe printers interconnected by such line circuit. A suitable type ofprinter is disclosed in U. S. Patent 1,745,633 granted to S. Morton etal. on February 4, 1930. The call keys are of the locking type.

A description of the operation involved in establishing connections fromeach of the main stations to the other main stations and to the outlyingstations will now be described.

OPERATION THE SYSTEM LINEN ROG M, STATION Linen room station to the roomclerlcs station To establish a connection from the linen room station tothe room clerks station, the room clerks call key 111 at the linen roomstation tact and lower armature of relay 112, back is operated andthereby connects ground at its lower operated contacts to an obviousoperating circuit for a single winding relay 112. The operation of thekey closes at the upper operated contacts of the key the operatingcircuit for the single winding relay 113. The latter circuit may betraced from grounded battery, through the windingv of relay 113, upperoperated contacts of key 111, conductor 114, to ground at the lowerouter armature of single winding relay 31lat the cashiers station.Relays 112 and 113 operate simultaneously and close the line circultbetween the printers at the linen room and the room clerks stations. Theline circuit may be tracedfrom grounded battery 115, front concontactand lower inner armature of single windrelay 116, through the winding ofprinter magnet 117 and the sending contacts 118 of the printer 119,upper armature and back contact of relay 116, upper armature and frontcontact of relay 112, upper armature and front contact of relay 113,conductors 120 and 225, back contact and lower armature or" singleWinding relay 211, back contact and lower inner armature of singlewinding relay 212, through the winding of printer magnet 213, sendingcontacts 214 of printer 215 at the room clerks station, upper armatureand back contact of relay 212, upper armature and back contact of relay211, conductors 216 and 217, front contact and lower inner armature ofrelay 113, conductor 121, lower outer armature and back contact of relay116, front contact and lower outer armature of relay 113 to ground. Theclosure of this line circuit starts the motors (not shown) of theprinters 119 and 215 and the motors, in operating, respectively closeoperating circuit for relays 122 and 233. Relay 122, in operating,closes at its armature and front contact a circuit extending overconductor 123 and then over parallel paths through the linen roomstation busy lamps 218, 314, 511 and 512 which are respectively locatedat the room clerks, cashiers,

. guest floor and engineers stations. These lamps,

light to thereby indicate to the attendants at the stations where thelamps are located that the printer at the linen room station is busy.Likewise relay 233, in operating, closes at its armature and frontcontact a circuit extending over conductor 225, and then over parallelpaths to the room clerks station busy lamps 141, 315, 521 and 522 whichare respectively located at the linen room, cashiers, guest fioor andengineers stations;

Should a call for the linen room station be made from the engineers orguest floor station at the time the linen room station is busy, the callcircuit for either of these calling stations would be found opened atthe back contact and. armature of relay 122, and therefore the circuitcould. not be completed.

. Should a call be made from the cashiers station to the linen room atthe time the linen room and room clerks printers are interconnected, theline circuit for interconnecting the linen room printer and the cashiersprinter would be found open at the back contact and lower armature ofrelay 112 or the back contact and lower inner armature of relay 116.

Should a call be made from the cashiers or the guest floor or theengineers station to the room clerks station at the time the latterstation is connected for operation to the linen room station, the callcircuit from cashiers station would be found open at the backcontact andlower outer armature of relay 113, and the call circuits. from both, theguest floor and the engineers stations would be found open at the backcontact of relay 233.

Linen room station to the engineers station To establish a connection tothe 'engineers station the engincers fcall key 124 at. the linen roomstation is operated and thereby simultaneously connects ground at itsupper operated contacts and grounded battery at its lower operated.contacts to the lower and the upper windings, respectively, of thedouble winding relay 125, the circuit including the lower windingextending to grounded battery at the back,

contact and armature of relay 122 and the circuit including the upperwinding extending to ground at the upper operated contacts of key 124.Relay 125 operates and closes at its armature No. a a locking circuitfor itself extending through its upper winding to ground at the ope'ated contacts of key 12 1. Also, it closes at its arrnature No. 6 andcontact an operating circuit for relay 116. As arinatures Nos. 2 and 7and their respectively associated front contacts the line circuitincluding printers 119 and 516 is closed, the line circuit extendingfrom grounded battery at armature No. 7 of relay 125, conductor, 126,armature No. 2 and its front contact of relay 125, conductor 121, lowerinner armature and back contactof relay 113, conductor 127, upperarmature and back contact of relay 113, conductor 123, front contact andupper armaof relay 116, sending contacts 1.18 and through the winding ofprinter magnet 11'? of printer 1.19, lower inner armature and frontcontact of relay 116, conductor 129, armature No. 1 and its frontcontact of relay 125, conductor 136, No. 2 and its back contact of relay219, conductor 220, back contact and lower outer armature of relay 411,conductor 412, sending contacts 513 and through the winding of printermagnet 51 1 of printer 516 to ound. At arinature No. 5 of relay 125 and1t front contact, circuit is closed to light the engineers busy lamps131, 221, 113 respectively located at the Mag:

. linen room, the room clerks and the telephone operators stations. Whenthe line irwl uiingrinters 119 and 516 is closed, the printer motorsstart and the relay 122 operates. Relay 122, in operating, connectsgrounded battery at its armature and front contact to conductor 123which extends in parallel paths to the linen room busy lamps 218, 31 i,511 and 512 tolight these lamps.

Should a call from the room clerks station be made to the linen roomstation at the time a connection is established between the latterstation and the engineers station, the operation of the linen room callkey 234 at the room clerks station would close a circuit extending fromrounded battery, through the winding of relay 223, upper operatedcontacts of key 234, conductor back. contact and lower outer armature ofrelay 326 to ground. Also, at the lower operated contacts of key 234 inobvious operating circuit for relay 211 would be operated. Relays 223and 221 would operate to connect the room clerks printer in a circuitextending" from grounded battery at the front contact and lower armatureof relay 211, back contact and'lower inner armature of relay 212,through the wind ing' of printer magnet 213 and sending contacts ofrelay 219.

214 of printer 215-, upper armature and back contact of relay 212, upperarlnatures and front contacts in series, of relays 211 and 228,conductors 235 and 236, back contact and lower a. mature of relay 112 toback contact of the lower inner armature of relay 116. Relay 116 wouldbe in an operated position and no connection would be established at theback contact and lower innor armature of relay 112.. Therefore, the roomclerks station can not be out in on an established connection betweenthe linen room and the engineers stations by operating call key 23 1.However, in the system described herein it is desirable to permit theroom clerk to have access to this established connection and thereforethe room clerk may'cut in on the connection by operating the engineerscall key 226, which, when operated closes parallel circuits respectivelyextending through the two windings One of these circuits is traceablefrom the grounded battery at the lower operated contacts of key 226,through the upper winding of relay 219, back to ground at the upperoperated contacts of key 226 and the other from grounded battery at thearmature and back contact of relay 233, conductor 244, through the lowerwinding of relay 219, to ground at the upper closed contacts of key 226.Relay 219 operates and closes an operating circult for relay 212 whichin turn operates to include the room clerks printer in the establishedline circuit which may now be traced from grounded battery at armatureNo. 7 and its front contact of relay 219, conductors 232 and 126 (at thejunction of conductors 232 and 126 grounded battery at armature No. 7and its front contact of relay 125 is also connected, as herein: beforestated), armature No. 2 and its front contact of relay 125, conductor121, lower inner armature and back contact of relay 113, conductor 127,back contactand upper armature of relay 113, conductor 128, frontcontact and up per armature of relay 116, sending contacts 118 andthrough the windingof printer magnet 11'? of printer 119, lower innerarmature and front of relay sending contacts 214 and through the windingof printer magnet 213 of printer 215, lower inner armature and frontcontact of relay 212 conductor 23l, armature No. 1 and its frontcontactof relay 219, conductor 220, back contact and lower outerarmature of relay 111, conductor 412, sending contacts 513 and throughthe winding of printer magnet 514 printer 516 to ground. The room clerksbusy lamps 141, 315, 521, and 522 will operate in a manner describedabove.

Should a call from the cashiers station be madeyto the linen room at thetime the line circuit between the linen room and the engln ers stationis established, the operation of the ll en room call key 318 closesseparate operating circuits for relays 32D and 326. The operatingcircuit for relay 320 is obvious and that for re lay 326 may be tracedfrom grounded positive battery, over the lower operated contacts of keyv318, through the winding of relay 326, con ductor 332, back contact andlower outer armature of relay 228 to ground. Relays 320 and 326 operateand prepare the line circuit for cashiers printer 323. This linecircuit, however, cannot be completed during the time that the linenroom printer 119 is busy because the line circuit is open at the backcontact and lower inner armature of relay 116, the prepared line circuitbeing traceable from grounded battery, front contact and lower armaturerelay 320, through the winding of printer magnet 321 and sendingcontacts of printer front contact of relay 320, upper armature and backcontact of relay 317, conductor 333, back contact and lower innerarmature of relay 317, conductor upper armature and front con tact ofrelay 326, conductor 334, back contact and lower armature of relay 112,back contact of the lower inner armature of relay 116, which being in anoperated position at the time, holds the latter armature in engagementwith its front contact. Therefore, the cashiers station can not be cutin on an established connection between the linen room and engineersstations.

The telephone operators station can not be cut in on an establishedconnection between the linen room and'the engineers stations becausewhen the engineers call key 414 at the telephone operators station isoperated, the call ircuit controlled by key 414 is maintained opened bythe operation of relay 219 at the linen room station, the circuit beingtraceable from grounded batteryat the lower operated contacts of key414, through the winding of relay 411, conductor 434-, to armature No. 3which is in an operated position at the time.

The guest floor station likewise can not be cut in on an establishedconnection between the linen-room and the engineers stations becausewhen the linenrooni call key 526 at the guest floor station is operatedthe call circuit controlled by key is open at the armature and backcontact 01' relay 122 which, will be in an operated position at thetime.

Linen room station to the guest floor station To establish a connectionto the guest floor, the guest floor call 132 is operated and thereby theoperation of relays 133 and 116. Relay 133 operates and completescircuits somewhat similar to those described above for relay 125. Theline circuit between the linen room and the guest floor stationsiscompleted by the operation of relays 133 and 166 and may be aced fromground, through the winding of 1: er magnet 517 and sending contacts 518of printer 512 at the guest floor station, conduc tor 520, lower outerarmature and back contact of relay 312, conductor 313, back contact andarmature No. 2 of relays 222, conductor 223, front contact and armatureNo. l of relay 133, conductor 128, back contact and armature N0. 1 ofrelay 125, conductor 128, front contact and lower inner ar -ature ofrelay 116, through the 11 ,er magnet 11'? and sendingconof printer 119,upper armature and front contact o r lay 116, conductor 1.28, upperarmature b contact of relay 1l3,.-conductcr 127, back contact and lowerinner armature of relay 113, conductor 121, front contact and armatureNo. 2 of relay 133, conductor 144, contact and armature No. 7 togrounded battery. guest floor busy lamps 135, 224, and 313 at the linenroom, the room olerks and the cashiers stations, respectively, arelighted by the circuit extending over conductors 136 and 13? therespective conductors connected to the 323, upper armature lamps toindicate that the guest floor station is busy. The linen room busy lamps218, 314 and 511 are also lighted when relay 122 operates, as describedabove, to indicate that the linen room station is busy.

The room clerks station may be cut in on an established connectionbetween the linen room and the guest floor station by operating theguest fioor station call key 238 which, when operated, causes theoperation of relays 222 and 212. The operation of the two latter relayscauses the room clerks printer to be included in the established linecircuit. The extended established i'lne circuit may be traced fromgrounded battery at armature No. '7 and front contact of relay 222,conductors 239 and 144 (at the junction of conductors 239 and 144another grounded battery is furnished), armature No. 2 and front contactof relay 133, conductor 121, lower inner armature and back contact ofrelay 113, conductor 127, back contact and upper armature of relay 113,conductor 128, front contact and upper armature of relay 116, sendingcontacts 118 and through the winding of printer magnet 11'? of printer119, lower inner armature and front contact conductor 129, armature No.1 and back contact of relay 125, conductor 128, armature No. 1 and frontcontact of relay 133, conductor 223, armature No. 2 and front con-, tactof relay 222, conductor 227, lower inner armature and back contact ofrelay 228, conductor 229, back contact and upper armature of relay 228,conductor 230, front contact and upper armature of relay 212, sendingcontacts 214, through the winding of printer magnet 213 of printer 215,lower inner armature and front contact of relay 212, conductor 231,armature Ito. 1 andits back contact of relay 219, conduc tor 248,armature No. 1 and its front contact of relay 222, conductor 313, backcontact and lower inner armature of relay 312,conductor 520, sendingcontacts 518 and through the winding of printer magnet 517 of printer519 to ground.

The cashiers station can not be cut in on an established connectionbetween the linen room and the guest floor stations because; first,should the guest floor station call key 337 at the cashiers station beoperated the call circuit controlled by key 33"! would be open atarmature No. 3 and back contact of relay 133 which happens to be in anoperated position at the time, and secondly, should the linen roomstation call key 318 be operated, the, call circuit which is controlledby key 318 and would be capable of being closed at this time becauserelay 228 is in a non-operated position, normally would cause theclosure of the line circuit of the cashier printer 323 but inasmuch asthe linen room station is busy at this moment, the line circuit of theoashiers printer will be found open at the back contact and lower innerarmature of relay 116.

The engineers station can not be cut in on an established connectionbetween the linen room and the guest floor stations because when thelinen room call key 525 at the engineers station is operated, the callcircuit controlled by key 525, can not be closed inasmuch as it ismaintained opened at the back contact and armature of relay 122.

Simultaneous connections from the linen room station to the room clerksand guest floor stations To establish a connection from the linen roomstation to the guest floor and the room clerks stations simultaneously,the room clerks call key 121and the guest floor call key 132 operated.Relays 133, 116, 112 and 113 operate and close a line circuit whichincludes in series connectionthe printers at the linen room, the roomclerks and the guest floor stations. This broadcasting line circuit isidentical with the extended established line circuit traced above indescribing the manner in which the room clerks station may be cut in onan established connection between the linen room and the guest floorstations. The closure of this line circuit starts the motors andprinters 119, 215 and 519 respectively located at the linen room, roomclerks and guest floor stations for sending messages simultaneouslybetween three stations.

ROOM CLERKS STATION as described above, or from the cashiers, engineersor the guest floor stations, the'latter connections being hereinafterdescribed under the heading of the office in which the connectionoriginates. Room clcrlcs station to eng'ineers station To establish aconnection from the room clerks to the engineers station call key 226 isoperated, causing the operation of relay 219 and the subsequentoperation of relay 212 and the lighting of the engineers busy lamps 221,131 and 413 at the room clerks, linen room and the telephone operatorsstations, respectively. The line circuit closed by the operation ofrelays 219 and 212 may be traced from grounded battery at armature No. 7and front contact of relay 219, conductors 232 and 126, armature No. 2and back contact of relay 125, conductor 139, armature No.2 and frontcontact of relay 219, conductor 227-, lower inner armature and backcontact of relay 228, conductor 229, back contact and upper armature ofrelay 228, conductor 230, front contact and upper armature of relay 212,sending contacts 214 and through the winding of printer magnet 213 ofprinter 215, lower inner armature and front contact of relay 212,conductor 231, armature No. l and front contact of relay 219, conductor220, back contact and lower outer armature of: relay ilhconductor 4.12.sens-- ing contacts 513 and through the Windoig of printer magnet 514 ofprinter 516 to ground. The closure of this line circuit starts themotors at printers 215 and 516 and causes relay 233 to operate.The-operation of relay 233 lights the room clerks busy lamps at thelinen room, cashiers guest floor and the engineers stations. The linenroom station maybe cut in on an established connection between the roomclerks and the en'gin'eers stations by operating the engineers call key124 whereby relay 125 operates to close an operating circuit 'for relay116. The operation of relays 116 and 125 closes the line circuit forprinter 119 which circuit may be traced from grounded battery atarmature No. '7 and contact of relay 125, conductor 126, armature No.and front contact of relay 125, conductor 121, lower inner armature andback contact of relay 113, conductor 12?, upper armature and backcontact of relay 113, conductor 128, front contact and upper armature ofrelay 116,.sending contacts 118 and through the Wind ing of magnet 11?of printer 119, lower inner armature and front contact of relay 116,conductor 129, armature No. 1 and front contact of relay 125, conductor130, armature No. 2 and front contact of relay 219, conductor 227, lowerinner armature and back contact of relay 228, conductor 229, backcontact and upper armature of relay 228, conductor 230, front contactand upper armature of relay 212 through the printer 215 and over thecircuit established to the engineers station.

The cashiers station can not be cut in on any connection to theengineers station. In the connection established between the room clerksand the engineers stations the line circuit of the cashier's printer 323is open at the back contact and lower inner armature of relay 212.

The telephone operators station can not be cut in on the connectionbecause the circuit controlled by call key 114 is open at armature No. 3and back contact of relay 219.

Likewise the guest floor can not be cut in on the connection because thecircuit controlled by call key 524 is open at the back contact andarmature of relay 233.

Room clerks station to linen room station To establish a connection fromthe room clerks station to the linen room station, call key 234 isoperated, causing the operation of single-winding relays 211 and 228 incircuits hereinbefore traced. The. operation of relays 211 and 228closes the line circuit between the room cle rks and the linen rooniprinters. This circuit may be traced from grounded battery on the frontcontact and lower armature of relay 211, back contact and lower innerarmature of relay 212, through the winding of printer magnet 213 andsending contacts 214 of printer 215, upper armature and back contact ofrelay 212, upper armature and front contact of relay 211, conductor 230,upper armature and front contact of, relay 228, conductors 235 and 236,back contact and lower armature of relay 112, back contact and loverinner armature of relay 116, through the winding of printer magnet 11?and sending contacts 113 of printer 119, upper armature and back contactof relay 116, upper armature and back contact of relay .112, conductors140 and 237, front contact lower inner armature of relay 228, conductor227, lower outer armature and contact of relay 212, conductor 240 frontcontact and lower outer armature of relay 228 to ground. The closure ofthis line circuit starts the motors of printers 215 and 119 and causesrelays 233 and 122 to operate. The operation of relays 233 and 122causes to light the room clerks busy lamps 141, 315, 521 and 522 at thelinen room, cashiers, guest floor and the engineers stations,respectively, and the linon room busy lamps 218, 314, 511 and 512 at theroom clerks, the cashiers, guest floor and the engineers stations,respectively.

The cashiers station can not be cut in on this connection between theroom clerks and the linen room stations because the two circuitsrespectively controlled by call keys 318 and 319 are open at the backcontacts and lower armatures of relays 228 and 113, or the line circuitof the cashiers printers 323 is open at the back contacts and lowerarmature of relay 211 or at the back contact and lower armature of relayThe guest floor and the engineers stations likewise can not be cut in onthe connection because the four circuits respectively controlled by callkeys 523, 524, 525 and 526 are open at the back contacts and armaturesof relays 233 and 122.

Room clerlcs station to guest floor To establish a connection from theroom clerks station to the guest floor station, call key 238 isoperated, causing the operation of the double winding relay 222 and thesubsequent operation of relay 212 and the lighting of the guest floorbusy lamps 224, 135, 313, respectively located at the room clerks, thelinen room and the cashiers stations. The line circuit closed by theoperation of relays 222 and 212 may be traced from grounded battery,armature No. "l and front contact of relay 222, .conductors 239 and 144,armature No. 2 and back contact of relay 133, conductor armature No. 2and front contact of relay 222, conductor 227, lower inner armature andback contactof relay 22S, conductor 229, back contact and upper armatureof relay 228, conductor 230, front contact and upper armature of relay212, sending contacts 214 and through the winding of printer magnet 213of printer 215, lower inner armature and front contact of relay 212,conductor 231, armature No. 1 and back contact of relay 219, armatureNo. 1 and front contact of relay 222, conductor 313, lower outerarmature and back contactv of relay 312, conductor 520, sending contacts513 and 3 through the winding of printer magnet 51'? of printer 519 toground. The closure of this circuit starts the motors of printers 215and 519 and relay 233 operates. The operation of relay 233 causes theroom clerks busy lamps 141, 315, 521-and 522 to light.

The linen room station may be, cut in on this connection between theroom clerks and the guest floor stations by operating the guest floor-"call key 132 at the linen room station. The cashiers station cannot becut in because the line circuit or" the cashiers printer will be open atarmature No. 3 of relay 222.

The engineers station can, not be cut in on the connection because thecircuit controlled by the call key 523 is open at the armature of delay233 and consequently relay 219 does not operate.

To establish a connection from the room clerks station to the linen roomand the guest floor stations simultaneously, call keys 234 and 233 areoperated, causing the operation of relays 222, 223 and 211 and thesubsequentoperaticn of relay 212 and the lighting of the guest floorbusy lamps mentioned above. The line circuit closed by the operation ofthese relays may be traced from grounded battery at armatureNo. 7 andfront contact of relay 222, conductors 239 and 144, armature No. 2 andback. contact of relay 133, conductor 223, armature No. 2 and frontcontact of relay 222, conductor 22.7, lower inner rmature and frontcontact of relay conductors 237 and 149, back contact and upper armatureof relay 112, back contact and upper of relay116, sending contacts 118and through the Winding of printer magnet 11'? of printer 119, lowerarmature and back contact of relay 116, lower armature and back contactof relay 112, conductors 236 and 235, front contact and upper armatureof relay 228, conductor 230, front contact and upper armature of relay212, sending contacts 214 and through the winding of printer magnet 213of printer 215, lower inner armature and front contact of relay 212,conductor 231, armature No. 1 and back contact of relay 212, armatureNo. 1 and front, contact of relay conductor 313, back contact and lowerouter armature of relay 312, conductor 520, sendingcontacts 518 andthrough the winding of printer-magnet 517 of printer 519 to ground. Thclosure of this circuit starts the s r aers 119, 215 and 519 and causesthe operation. of relays 122 and 233. The operation of rela s 122 and233 closes operating circuits the linen room station and the guest iioorstation busy lamps mentioned above.

' Cssrimas S's/arrow Caehiers station to the telephone opcmtors stationTo establish a connection from the cashiers station to the telephoneoperators station, call key 316 is operated causing the operation ofrelays, 31! 32D and the lighting of the cashiers busy lai. p 415 at thetelephone operators station. The line circuit closed by the operation ofrelay 317 and 329 may be traced from grounded battery at the frontcontact and lower armature of relay 320, through the winding of printermagnet 321 and the sending contacts 322 of printer 323, upper armatureand front contact of relay 32G, upper armature and front contact ofrelay 317, conductor 423, back contact and upper armature of relay 41S,sending contacts 41? and through the winding of the printer magnet 413of the pr nter 413, lower armature and back contact of relay 416,conductor 420, front contact and upper inner armature of relay 317,conductor 325, upper armature and back contact of relay -26, conductor327, back contact and lower inner armature of relay 326, conductor 328,upper ermatme and back contact of relay 311, conductor back contact andlower inner armature of relay 311, conductor 339, back contact andlower." inner armature of relay 312, conductor 331, front contact andlower outer armature of relay 317 to ground. The closure of this linecircuit starts the motors of printers and 419.

'kzsbiers station to the linen room station The operating circuit forrelay 325 The closure armature printer magnet 321 and the sendingcontacts 322 of printer 323, upper armature and front contact of relay320,,upper armature and back contact'of relay 317, conductor 333, backcontact and lower inner armature of relay 317, conductor upper armatureand front contact of relay 326, conductor 235,bacl contact and lowerarmature of relay 112, back contact and lower of relay 116, through thewinding of printer magnet 117 and. the sending contacts 118 of printer119, upper armature and back contact of relay 113, upper armature andback contact of relay 112, conductor 140, front contact and lower innerarmature of relay 326, conductor and over the normal contacts andarlnatures, in series, of relays 311 and 312 to the grounded conductor331 as described above. of the last mentioned circuit starts the motorsoi"; printers 323 and 112. The starting of printer motor 113 operatesrelay 122 the operation of which causes the linen room busy lamps 213,314, 511 and 512 to light.

The room clerks station may be cut in on this connection by operatingthe linen room call key 234 thereby causing relays 211 and 228 tooperate. The room clerks printer 215 is connected in parallel ith thecashiers printer to the line circuit at point 211 by the operation ofrelays 211 and 223. The attendants at, the guest floor and the engineersstations are prevented from cutting on this connection by the operationof relay Likewise the attendant at the telephone operators station isprevented from cutting in on line circuit by the open connectionat theback contact lower armature of relay 322. l-lcwever, the attendantat theashi'ers station may include the guest floor printer by operating callkey 337 and the telephone operators printer by operating call key 313.

Cashiefs station to the room clerlcs station To establish a-connectionfrom the cashiers station to the room clerlrs station, fcall key 313 isoperated-causing the operation of relays 311 and 329 and the lighting ofthe cashier's the winding of relay 311, conductor 335, back contact andlower outer armature of relay 113 1 to ground. The operation of relays311 and 320 closes line circuit which may be traced grounded batteryat'the front contact and lower of relay through the winding of printermagnet 321 and the sending contacts of printer 323, upper armature andfront contact of relay upper armature and back.

cont ct of relay 317, conductor 333, back contact and lower innerarmature of relay 317, conductor 325, upper armature and back contact ofrelay 326, conductor 327, back contact and lower inner armature of relay326, conductor upper armature and front contact of relay 311, conduo orsand 225, back contact tact and lower outer armature of relay 326 toground. The closure of this line circuit starts the motors of printers323 and 215. The starting of the motor of printer 215 operates relay theoperation of which causes the room clerks busy lamps 1 11, 315, 521 and522 to light.

The linen room station may be cut in on this connection by operating theroom clerks cal key 111 thereby causing relays 112 and 113 to operate.The linen room printer 119 is connected in parallel with the room clerksprinter 215 to the line circuit at point 2 12 by the operation of relays112 and 113. The attendants at the guest floor and the engineersstations are prevented from cutting in on the circuit by the operationof relay 233. Likewise the attendant at the telephone operators stationis prevented from cutting in on this line circuit by 'the openconnection at the back contact and lower armature of relay 320. However,the attendant at the cashiers station may include the guest floorprinter by operating call key 337 and the telephone operators printer byoperating call key 316.

Cashiers station to the guest floor To establish a connection irom thecashiers station to the g est floor station, call key 337 is operatedcausing the operation of relays 312 and 320 and the lighting of thecashiers busy lamp 415. The operating circuit for relay 312 may betraced from grounded battery at thelower operated contact of key 337,through the winding of relay 312, conductor 338, armature No. 3 andback. contact of relay 222, conductor-243, baclr contact and armatureNo. 3 of relay 133 to ground. The operation of relay 312 closes anoperating circuit-for the guest floor busy lamps 313, .224 and 135,respectively located at the cashiers, the room clerlrs and the linenroom stations. Relay 312, in operating, closes an obvious lockingcircuit for itself at its upper inner armature to prevent the release ofrelay 313 should a call from the linen room station to the guest floorstation be started immediately after the call from the cashiers stationstarts. The joint operation of relays 312 and 320 closes the linecircuit between the cashiers and the guest floor stations which may betraced from grounded battery at the front contact and lower armature ofrelay 320, through the winding of printer magnet 321 and sender contacts322 of printer 323, upper contact and armature of relay 320, upperarmature and back contact of relay 317, conductor 333, back contact andlower inner armature of relay 317, conductor 325, upper armature andback contact of relay 326, conductor 337, back contact and lower innerarmature of relay 327, conductor 328, upper armature and back contact ofrelay 311, conductor 329, back. contact and lower inner armature ofrelay 311, conductor 330, front contact and lower outer armature ofrelay 312, conductor 520, sending contacts 513 and through the windingof printer 517 of the print- To establish connections from the cashiersstation tothe telephone operators, linen room, room clerks and guestfloor stations simultaneously, call keys 316, 318, 319 and 337 areoperated and thereby cause the operation of relays 320, 317," 326, 311and 312 and the lighting of the cashiersstation busy lamp 415 at thetele phone operators station and the guest floor station busy lamps313,224 and 135' at. the cashiers, room clerks and linen room stations,respectively. The operation of these relays closes a line circuitincluding 'the printers at the stations involved in the-broadcastconnection. The circuit may be traced from grounded battery at the frontcontact and lower armature of relay 320, through the winding of magnet321, sending contacts 322, upper armatures and front contacts, inseries, of relays 326 and 317, conductor 324, back contact and upperarmature of-relay 416, sending contacts 417, through the winding ofmagnet 418, lower armature and back contact of relay 416, conductor 420,front contact and inner lower armature of relay 317, conductor 325,upper armature and front contact relay 326, conductor 236, back contactand lower armature of relay 112, back contact and lower inner armatureof relay 116, through the winding of magnet 117 and sending contacts 118of printer 119, upper armatures and back contacts, in series, of relays116 and 112, conductor 146, front contact and lower inner armature ofrelay 326, conductor 328, upper armature and front contact of relay 311,conductors 336 and 225, back contact and lower armature of relay 211,back contact and lower inner armature of relay 212, throughthe windingof mag.-

net 213 and sending contacts 214 of printer 215.,

upper armatures and back contacts, in series, of relays 212 and 211,conductors 216 and 217, front contact and lower inner armature of relay311, conductor 330, front contact and lower outer armature of relay 312,conductor 520, sending contacts 518 and through the winding of magnet517 of printer 519 to ground The printer motors at the telephoneoperators, linen room, room clerks and guestfioor stations startsimultaneously. The starting of the printer motors at the linen room andthe room clerks stations operate relays 122 and 233 respectively. Relay122 closes a circuit for lighting :the. linen room station busy lamps218, 314, 511 and 512. Relay 233 closes'a circuit for lighting the roomclerks station busy. lamps 141, 315, 521 and 522. The telephoneoperatofsffbusy lamp 339 does not light when the call originates at thecashiers station; this lamp is controlled by any of theoall keys 422,426, 428-and'414 at the telephone operators station.

-TELEPHONE OPERATORS STATION As stated above, the telephone operatorsstation equipment is adapted to establish connections to the cashiers,bell captains, the porters and the engineers stations. Also connectionsmay be made to the telephone operators station from the cashiersstation, as described above, and from the engineers station which willbe hereinafter described. I

Telephone operators station to the cashiers station To establish aconnection from the telephone operators station to.thecashiersstation,call key 422 is operated causing the operation of relays 423 and 416 andthe lighting of the operators station busy lamp 339 at the cashiersstation. The operation of relaysj 423 and 416 closes the line circuitbetween these stations, which circuit may be traced from groundedbattery at the front'contact and lowerarmatnre of relay. 416, throughthe winding of printer magnet 418 and sending contacts 417 of printer.419, upper armature and front contact or" relay 416, upper armature andfront contact of relay 423, conductor 424, back contact and lower arm--ature of relay 320, through the winding of printer magnet 321 andprinter contacts 322 of printer upper armature and back contact of relay320, conductor 340, front contact and lower mner armature of relay 423,conductor 425, normal contact of key, 426, conductor 427, normal contactof key 428, conductor 429, back contact and'lower inner armature ofrelay 411, con.- ductor 436, front contact and lower outer armature ofrelay 423, to ground. The closure of. the line circuit starts the motorsof printers 419 and 323. The'cashiers station busy lamp 415 does notlight when the call originates at the telephone operators station.

Telephone operators station to the engineers station To establish aconnection from the telephone operators station to;the engineersstation, calli key 414 is operated causing the operation ,of relays 411and 416 and the lighting of the telephone operatorsstation busy lamp 339at the cashiersstation. The operation of relay 411 closes the operatingcircuit for the engineers station busy lamps 413, 221 and 131. Alsorelay 411, in operating, oloses'alocking circuit for itself in order toprevent its release should a call to the operators stationv originate atthe linen room or the room clerks station immediately after the callbetween the operators and the engineers stations has started. The jointoperation of relays 411 and 416 closes the line circuit between theoperators and the engineers stationswhich circuit may be traced fromgrounded battery at the front contact and lower armature of relay 416,through the windingof printer magnet 418v and sending contacts 417 ofprinter 419, upper armature and front contact of relay 416, upperarmature and back contact of relay 423, conductor 431, backcontact andlower inner armature of relay 423, conductor 425, normal contact of key426, conductor 427, normal contact of key 428, conductor 429, frontcontact and lower'outer armatureof relay411, conductor 412, sendingcontacts 513 and through the winding of. printer magnet 514 of printer516 to ground. The closure of this line circuit starts the motors ofprinters419 and 516.

The linen room and the room clerks stations are prevented from cuttingin on this line circuit by the openconnection at the back contact andlower outer armature of relay 411.

Telephone operators station to the bell captains station To establish aconnection from the telephone operators station to the bell captainsstation, call? key 426 is operated causing the operation of relay 416and the lighting of the operators station busy" lamp 339 at the.cashiers station. The operation of relay. 416 closes a line circuit tothe bell captains station which circuit Telephone operators station tothe porter station To establish a connection from the telephoneoperators station to the porters station, call key 428 is operated and aline circuit is completed in substantially the same manner as that tothe bell captains station except that the circuit is sent over thenormal contacts of key 426 g and the lower operated contacts of key428,conductor 433, through the printer at the porters' station showndiagrammatically by rectangular block 523 to ground. The closure of thisline circuit starts the motors of printers 419 and 528. r i

The cashiers station is prevented from cutting in on the line circuitsfrom the telephone operators station to either the engineers, bellcaptains' or the porters station by the open connection at thebackcontact and upper armature of relay 416. a

GUEST FLOOR smm As stated above, the guest floorstation equipment isadapted to establish connections to the room clerks and the linen roomstations. Also connections may be made to the guest floor station fromthe linen room, room clerks and the cashiers stations; the latterconnections are described above.

Guest floor station to the room clerks station To establish a connectionfrom the guest floor station to the room clerks station, call key 524 isoperatedthereby closing an operating circuit for relay 222. This circuitmay be traced from grounded battery at the armature and back contact ofrelay 233, conductor 244, through the lower winding of relay 222,conductors 245 and 246 to ground at the contact of key 524. Relay 222operates thereby closing a locking circuit for itself, an operatingcircuitfor the guest floor station busy lamps 135, 224 and 313, and anoperating circuit for relay 212. Relay 212 operates and in conjunctionwith relay 222 closes a line circuit between the-guest floor and theroom clerks stations, which circuit may be traced from grounded batteryat armature No. I and contact of relay 222,.conductors 239 and 144,armature No. 2 and back contact of relay 133, conductor 223,'ar1natureNo. 2 and front contact of relay 222, conductor 227, lower innerarmature and back contact of relay 228, conductor 229, back contact andupper armature of relay 228, conductor 230, front contact and upperarmature of relay 212, through the printer 215, lower inner armature andfront contact of relay 212, conductor 231, armature No. 1 and backcontact of relay 219, armature No. 1 and.

front contact of relay 222, conductor 313, back contact and lower outerarmature of relay 312, conductor 520,. through the printer 519 toground. Theclosure of this. line circuit. starts the motors of printers215 and 519. The starting of the motor at 215 operates relay 233 whichoperates to thereby close the operating circuit for the room clerksstation busy lamps 141, 315, 521 and 522. i

The linen room printer may be connected to the established line circuitbetween the guest floor and the room clerks station by operating callkey 132 thereby causing the operation of relays 133 and 116. Theoperation of relay 133 prepares printer 119 for connection to the linecircuit and the operation of relay 116 completes the connection. Theline'circuit including the printers at the linen room, room clerks andthe guest floor stations is, described above under the heading LinenRoom Station.

The cashiers station can not cut in on the established line circuitbetween the guest floor and the room clerks stations.

Guest floor station to the linen room station To establish a connectionfrom the guest floor station to the linen room station, call key 526 isoperated, thereby closing an operating circuit for relay 133, Thiscircuit is obvious and needs no tracing here inasmuch as it is similarto the To establish a connection from the engineers station to the roomclerks station, call key 523 is operated thereby closingan operatingcircuit for relay 219. This circuit is obvious and needs no tracing hereinasmuch asit is similar to the operating circuit for relay 222 whichwas traced in the foregoing description under Guest floor station to theroom clerks station.

Engineers station to the linen room station To establish a connectionfrom the engineers station to the linen room station, call key 525 isoperated thereby closing an operating circuit for relay 125. Thiscircuit is obvious and needs no tracing here inasmuch as it is similarto the operating circuit for relay 222 which was traced in the foregoingdescription under Guest floor station to the room clerks station;

The linen room and room clerks stations may each cut in on the othersconnection to the engineer's station by operating the call keys 124 and226 at their respective stations.

ADDITIONAL consr FLOOR STATIONS Additional guest floor stations may bepro vided as required, equipment for each floor being identical withthat shown in the upper part of Fig. 5 of the drawing.v Also there willbe pro Vided at the linen room, room clerks and the cashiers stationsadditional equipment corresponding to. that now shown at thesestationsand designated guest floor. The latter equipment may be connected tothat shown at the linen room, room clerks and the. cashiers sta tions,conductors 139, 249 and 331, respectively extending to the next guestfloor relay at these stations. The dashed line section of conductor 331at the cashiers station represents the corn tinuation of the conductorextending over lower inner armatures and front contacts of the additional relays corresponding to relay 312.

Whatis claimed is:

1. In a telegraphsystem, a plurality of central ofiices, a plurality ofoutlying stations, normally opened line circuits interconnecting saidoifices and connecting certain of said offices with said stations,circuit closing devices at each of said central oinces and certain ofsaid outlying stations for closing the line circuits extendingto certainother central offices and certain outlying stations either separately orsimultaneously.

In a telegraph system according to claim 1, wherein the circuit closingdevices at certain of said outlying stations are further adapted toclose said line circuits to two or more central offices simultaneously.

3. In a telegraph system according to claim 1, wherein the circuitclosing devices at a central office forclosing a line circuit to anoutlying station are adapted to prevent another station from interferingwith the closed circuit.

4. In a telegraph system according to claim 1, wherein the circuitclosing devices at a central office for closing a line circuit to anoutlying station are adapted to permit another central ofiice to connectitself to said closed line circuit.

5. In a telegraph system according to claim 1, wherein the circuitclosing devices at an outlying station is adapted to selectively connectone of its associated line circuits to line circuits extending to two ormore central stations.

6. In a telegraph system according to claim 1, wherein the circuitclosing devices are provided at certain of said central ofnces for pre-,venting establishment of operative connection to such offices whenengaged in a previously established connection and other devicesdependent on the first mentioned devices for indicating at the callingstation the busy position of the engaged station.

7. In a telegraph system according to claim 1 wherein the line circuitsterminate at each of said central offices and at certain of saidstations in a signal transmitting and receiving device, and at each ofthe other stations in a signal receiving only device, and switchingmeans for conditioning for operation Said device at two ormoreinterconnected central offices when the line circuits interconnectingsaid two or more central 'offices are closed, said switching means beingalso adapted to condition for operation the device at one of saidcentral ofiices and the device at oneof said stations when the linecircuit extending between the central oflice and the station is closed.

the device at one of said central ofiices and one of said stations whenthe line circuit extending between said ofiice and said station isclosed, and busy indicating means at each of said omces and saidstations arranged when the devices at said offices and said stations areconditioned for operation, to operate and to release when said devicesare restored to normal.

9. A telegraph system comprising a subscrib ers station, a secondsubscribers station, a

transmitting and receiving device at each of said stations, a normallyopened line circuit extending directly between said devices, circuitclosing devices at each of said stations for closing said line circuit,a source of'electrical energy at one of said stations for transmittingsignaling currents over the line circuit when closed, a thirdsubscribers station, normally opened line cirsecond stations, a signaltransmitting and receiving deviceat said third "station, and circuitclosing devices at said third static-n for. selectively closing the linecircuit to said first and second stations either separately orsimultaneously,v

cuits extending directly to both the first and signaling current fromthe source of energy at the other of the first two mentioned stations.-

ll. A telegraph system comprising a plurality of stations, normallyopened line circuits extending directly between said stations, circuitclosing devices at each of said station for selectively closing the linecircuit to the other stations either separately or simultaneously, asource of energy at each of certain stations for energizing each of theclosed line circuits, the other of said stations having their portionsof said closed line circuits energized by the sources at certainstations to which the closed line circuit extends.

12. A telegraph system according to claim 11 wherein the circuit closingdevices at certain of said stations are adapted to connect theirrespectively associated normally opened line circuits to certain ofsaidclosed line circuits for communication purposes and wherein the circuitclosing devices at the other of said stations are prevented fromconnecting their respectively associated normally opened line circuitsto any of said closed line circuits.

13. A printing telegraph system, a subscribers station, a secondsubscribers station, a signal sending and receiving device at each ofsaid stations, a normally opened line circuit interconnecting saiddevices, circuit closing devices at each of said stations for closingsaid line circuit, a third subscribers station, a signal sending andreceiving device at said third station, a normally opened line circuitextending from said signal device at the third station to the signaldevices at said first and second stations, and circuit closing-devicesat each of said stations for closing its normallyopened line circuit toeither of the other stations, said circuit closing devices at one ofsaid stations being adapted to close its normally opened line circuitand thereby to connect its signaling device to the signal devices at theother two stations during the time the signal devices at the latterstations are operatively connected to each other.

14. A printing telegraph system comprising a plurality of stations, asignal sending and receiving device at each of said stations, normallyopened line circuits extending between said devices, circuit closingdevices at each of said stations for selectively closing the normallyopened line circuits to one or more of the other stationssimultaneously, and a-source of electrical energy at each of' certain'stationsfor energizing each of the closed line circuits and said signaldevices connected thereto, the other of said stations havingtheirrespective "portions of the closed line circuits and their respectivesaid signal devices energized by the sources of energy at said certainstations to which the closed circuits extend.

15. In a telegraph system, a central ofiice having asignaltransmittingand receiving mechanism, a plurality of conductors extending to outlyingstations, a relay associated with each of said conductors for connectingthe conductor to the signal mechanism, remote control means at anoutlying station for operating the associated relay to connect thestations with the signal mechanism, characterized by a busy signaldevice at an outlying station, and relaying means responsive to theoperationof any of the relays for operating said busy signal device.

16. In a signaling-system, a central office hav-- ing a signalmechanism, a plurality of conduc-- tors extending to outlying stations,a relay associated with each of said conductors for connect-- ing theconductorto the signal mechanism, an outlying station, signal mechanismat said outlying station, remote'control means at said out-l lyingstation for operating the associated relay to connect the signalmechanism at said station to the signal mechanism at said centraloflice,

switching means at the central ofiice for operating any desired relay,characterized by relaying means for preventing remote control operationof any one relay While any other relay is energized, but permitting theoperation by the central ofiice of more than one relay atthe same time,

tive relays and the last link being connectable to i said current sourceeach relay having also operative contacts for interposing the associatedreceiver serially between the two adjoining links, other switching meanscontrolled at the sending station for operating any desired relay orrelays, characterized in this that the operation of any relay iseifective to connect the last link to the current source whereby thetransmission circuit is closed only when one or more receivers areincluded therein.

' i EDWARD F. WATSON.

